Portraits of Major Andre, left, and Benedict Arnold at the '76 House in Tappan May 6, 2015. George Washington is said to have turned the Arnold painting upside down, as it remains today.
Peter Carr/The Journal News

It's been a tavern since it was built in 1668, yet The '76 House in Tappan is perhaps best known for the one brief time in 1780 it served as a prison.

Benedict Arnold's name is synonymous with "traitor" in the United States. In 1780, Arnold's British co-conspirator Major John Andre was captured in nearby Tarrytown and imprisoned in the basement of Yoast Mabie's Tavern — today, The '76 House — just down the road from George Washington's Tappan headquarters. Andre was tried at the Dutch Reformed Church across the street and hanged on what is now known as Andre Hill. Andre is regarded a hero in his native country, and is buried in Westminster Abbey; Arnold is regarded as a traitor and a disgrace (his portrait hangs upside-down at The '76 House's bar); The '76 House itself is a Registered National Landmark and beloved meeting place for nearly 350 years.

"What I most enjoy is we're catering to the modern American, just like the tavernkeepers of the 1600s and 1700s did," says owner Robert C. D. Norden. Nightly live music and quarterly wine dinners keep things lively. Sunday brunch draws families from near and far. Fittingly, the restaurant is decorated with colonial Americana, and the four original fireplaces are still in regular use. Part of the bar is original — and yes, Washington really did drink and dine here when he was in town.

"It goes way beyond restoration — this was a real preservation effort," says Norden, who removed shag carpeting and drop ceilings when he took over in 1986. "The embracing of American history ebbs and flows; we seem to be in a time right now where things are moving in the right direction."

What we tried

Wild Boar Sausage: Free-range wild boar from Broken Arrow Ranch is combined with caramelized onion, garlic and sage and cased in-house by executive chef Doug Mulholland. Rich flavor; not too spicy, not at all burp-y (as sausage can sometimes be), just perfect, respecting the flavor of the meat. Served sliced in a row over a sweet onion and white bean cassoulet.

Filet Mignon Rosemary Skewers: These juicy medallions of filet mignon were actually speared through with rosemary, allowing the flavor to permeate the entire morsel of meat. Smelled heavenly. Served alongside a simple espagnole sauce with a smaller dollop of shallot bordelaise in the center, and a generous pile of fried haystack onions.

Roast Amish Chicken: At first I thought the "Amish" element was the simple preparation of this roast half-chicken. Turns out, the hormone-free chicken was actually farmed by the Amish in Pennsylvania Dutch country. I don't normally love gravy but this wine-based herb chicken gravy was just right, which was handy as the breast was a bit dry otherwise. Cranberry-chestnut stuffing was fluffy and perfect.

Eden Brook Trout Trieste: Expertly deboned, allowing for uninterrupted enjoyment of the mild, fresh fish from nearby Eden Brook Trout Farm in Monticello. A crumbly garlic-herb topping gave the fish just the right amount of bite. No wonder this is the favorite dish of tavernkeeper Norden's own mother.

Drinks and dessert

They've actually got their own house beer now — Tavernkeeper's Ale — made by Defiant Brewery in nearby Pearl River. We decided that wine went better with our meal this particular evening but will have to come back for a pint of the house ale at the bar soon, while enjoying more live music.

All desserts are house made. We enjoyed every last bite of the almondy Austrian linzer tort (with a generous ratio of jam to base) and the perfect classic crème brulee.

Who goes

Everybody. The diverse selection of musical acts attracts different crowds throughout the week; brunch brings families on the weekends. Most natives of Tappan have also been to at least one private party here (I can count at least six to my memory).

Inside scoop

There's live music every night: acoustic and open mike on Mondays, a "jazz salon" on Wednesdays, and an ever-changing schedule on all other evenings (there's music twice on Sundays, during brunch and again in the evening). Join the mailing list for the heads-up on quarterly food and beverage pairing events, which are usually lead by the vintners or brewers.

What we will order next

Yankee Pot Roast and Hannah Davis's baked apple crunch (named after the first pensioned widow of the Revolution and Norden's "great, great, great, great, great grandmother," not the swimsuit model) sound appropriately patriotic for dinner, and are known house specialties. The sliced breast of Long Island duckling over balsamic glazed strawberries is a tempting new addition to their summer menu, and I'm intrigued to see what exotic meats will turn up in Mulholland's kitchen next (right now it's alligator and red deer — he's also done emu, ostrich and antelope). But honestly, next time I go, I'll probably be scarfing down French toast and a mimosa from the brunch buffet alongside my kids. Or maybe I'll grab some sliders from the bar menu while I listen to music post-dinner with a friend on a weeknight.

What's nearby

History buffs can check out the nearby DeWint House, George Washington's temporary headquarters during the Revolutionary War and the oldest structure in Rockland County. Tappan in general is great for putting together your own little tour of Revolutionary War history by following the many signs around town. Trace Major Andre's fateful steps from the '76 House, to the Tappan Reformed Church down the street, then trudge up Andre Hill to see a monument in the very spot where he met his fate.